On Tuesday, October 9, 2018, @MeltzVegas was at the 2018 G2Eshow and spotted this. A new electronic craps table. Always on the ball, he made a video and posted it on Twitter.
A Las Vegas gaming company hopes a new version of craps that combines a digital layout with a dealer and real dice will make the traditional casino game less intimidating and appeal to millennials and others who might pass by a felt-covered table. ROLL TO WIN CRAPS™, can be operated with a single dealer and offers chip-free and error-free operation. A live-table gameplay with dynamic interactive graphics and a thrilling side bet that awards a jackpot on a hot shooter's streak.
And here's a picture of the betting terminal:
Later, @Eric_Ramsey tweeted this: There was a lot of cool shit at #G2E2018, and this was by far one of the coolest things I saw.
Reaction
Here's some of the reaction on Twitter:
Vegas Confessions (@Vegasconfesspod) asked: Could this be the future of craps?
Cousin Vito's Casino(@VitosCasino) chimed in: The future of low limit craps? It's basically a 16 person stadium gaming table for craps. One mindless dealer, low limits, and an arbitrary countdown clock… I'd try at a $5 minimum.
@Siedlecki_B: I saw this at the convention. A guy walked up, threw the dice in an odd manner (essentially gliding them across the glass table), hit 11, got the dice back, same throwing motion and got 11 again. Looked the dealer and said 'See your flaw here?' And walked away. Total savage move.
@Snickers99poker: Not me. I'm a low roller and I'd play a $10 ‘real' table before I'd play a $5 electric table. Or not play at all. Takes all the fun out. Kills jobs. Can you place odds?
Cousin Vito's Casino (@VitosCasino): If the payouts are all the same and lets say only $15 or $25 tables are open… would you play the $5 electronic table?
@_Absolute0: Not play. I can even see myself walking up and playing dumb and then 'finding out' there wasn't a human dealer and walking away. Just to dickishly get my point across.
@Snickers99poker: Easy choice for me..not play. $15 too high for me & I don't want to play a video game.
Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas): I gotta say, if this every becomes prevalent at Vegas casinos, it will fundamentally change the way I view and interact with Las Vegas. I probably wouldn't live here or write about it anymore. Almost happened with liquor brand swapping, but I suspect I'd be done. Abomination.
@russmaloney: I can't see the long-term benefit. Even if experienced players are okay with it, human craps dealers actually help new players make correct bets, inform on side bets, etc. Whatever money the casinos save in not having dealers they may lose in not getting new players.
@gamblinmcgoo: The action seems too slow with the count down to no more bets. A good crew can keep the dice moving at twice the speed.
Job Loss?
On the possibility of craps dealers losing their jobs (well, let's not kid ourselves, there will be jobs lost…it's not a possibility):
@Snickers99poker: And I'm assuming any dealer can run that table so you lose the personality of craps dealers..the interaction between you and them as knowledgeable craps people and nobody to ask questions to (like a first time player).
@funnykeithlyle: Yep. Don't even need to know the game. Just give the shooter the dice. No need for supervisor. And no tips. People will play it because it has the same feel as a real dice game. Plus, no one gets in the way with late bets.
Faces And Aces Las Vegas (@FacesAndAcesLV): Sadly it will mean fewer jobs, and human interaction is a big part of the Vegas experience.
@_Absolute0: This. I play just as much for the human interaction as actual gambling. And working in the service industry am sensitive to the fact a real person is being replaced. I refuse to even use self checkout at the grocery. Just because a job can be automated doesn't mean it should be.
Faces And Aces Las Vegas (@FacesAndAcesLV): The strip is moving towards automation (valet ticket machine, self check in kisoks, robot bartenders, virtual blackjack, etc). Ultimately, it depends on the popularity of the machine, but yeah, I can see this as the future of Vegas.
@Snickers99poker: Part of the problem is most casinos have shareholders to please. So they'll go for the short term boost to the quarterly numbers and worry later. Gotta keep that stock price up!
Not The First
And this isn't the first attempt at electronic craps:
@gamblinmcgoo: They had almost exactly the same setup at Bill's about 8 years ago. Real table with felt, real dice and video terminals. It was frustrating to play as the action was slow and one dealer handling buy ins and cash out. Lasted about a year.
We are not a fan. As mentioned, handling and making bets with real chips, plus the interaction with actual craps dealers, is part of why we love craps so much. Reminds us of those electronic poker tables they tried before.
We felt the same about these. It looks cool and everything, but we go to the casino to handle the cards and play with real chips. Does any casino still have these?
Thanks to Marc Meltzer for letting us post his video of the craps table. The guy knows Las Vegas. Follow him at @MeltzVegas for the latest information on Las Vegas and cool pictures.
Thanks for reading! Never miss a post! Subscribe to the website by filling out the form on the right hand side. You'll be emailed when a new post is up. Or follow us on Twitter @YourTripReports. We tweet whenever we post something new.
Submit a trip report of your own! Click the 'Submit Your Trip Report' tab at the top of the page.
Reaction
Here's some of the reaction on Twitter:
Vegas Confessions (@Vegasconfesspod) asked: Could this be the future of craps?
Cousin Vito's Casino(@VitosCasino) chimed in: The future of low limit craps? It's basically a 16 person stadium gaming table for craps. One mindless dealer, low limits, and an arbitrary countdown clock… I'd try at a $5 minimum.
@Siedlecki_B: I saw this at the convention. A guy walked up, threw the dice in an odd manner (essentially gliding them across the glass table), hit 11, got the dice back, same throwing motion and got 11 again. Looked the dealer and said 'See your flaw here?' And walked away. Total savage move.
@Snickers99poker: Not me. I'm a low roller and I'd play a $10 ‘real' table before I'd play a $5 electric table. Or not play at all. Takes all the fun out. Kills jobs. Can you place odds?
Cousin Vito's Casino (@VitosCasino): If the payouts are all the same and lets say only $15 or $25 tables are open… would you play the $5 electronic table?
@_Absolute0: Not play. I can even see myself walking up and playing dumb and then 'finding out' there wasn't a human dealer and walking away. Just to dickishly get my point across.
@Snickers99poker: Easy choice for me..not play. $15 too high for me & I don't want to play a video game.
Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas): I gotta say, if this every becomes prevalent at Vegas casinos, it will fundamentally change the way I view and interact with Las Vegas. I probably wouldn't live here or write about it anymore. Almost happened with liquor brand swapping, but I suspect I'd be done. Abomination.
@russmaloney: I can't see the long-term benefit. Even if experienced players are okay with it, human craps dealers actually help new players make correct bets, inform on side bets, etc. Whatever money the casinos save in not having dealers they may lose in not getting new players.
@gamblinmcgoo: The action seems too slow with the count down to no more bets. A good crew can keep the dice moving at twice the speed.
Job Loss?
On the possibility of craps dealers losing their jobs (well, let's not kid ourselves, there will be jobs lost…it's not a possibility):
@Snickers99poker: And I'm assuming any dealer can run that table so you lose the personality of craps dealers..the interaction between you and them as knowledgeable craps people and nobody to ask questions to (like a first time player).
@funnykeithlyle: Yep. Don't even need to know the game. Just give the shooter the dice. No need for supervisor. And no tips. People will play it because it has the same feel as a real dice game. Plus, no one gets in the way with late bets.
Faces And Aces Las Vegas (@FacesAndAcesLV): Sadly it will mean fewer jobs, and human interaction is a big part of the Vegas experience.
@_Absolute0: This. I play just as much for the human interaction as actual gambling. And working in the service industry am sensitive to the fact a real person is being replaced. I refuse to even use self checkout at the grocery. Just because a job can be automated doesn't mean it should be.
Faces And Aces Las Vegas (@FacesAndAcesLV): The strip is moving towards automation (valet ticket machine, self check in kisoks, robot bartenders, virtual blackjack, etc). Ultimately, it depends on the popularity of the machine, but yeah, I can see this as the future of Vegas.
@Snickers99poker: Part of the problem is most casinos have shareholders to please. So they'll go for the short term boost to the quarterly numbers and worry later. Gotta keep that stock price up!
Not The First
And this isn't the first attempt at electronic craps:
@gamblinmcgoo: They had almost exactly the same setup at Bill's about 8 years ago. Real table with felt, real dice and video terminals. It was frustrating to play as the action was slow and one dealer handling buy ins and cash out. Lasted about a year.
We are not a fan. As mentioned, handling and making bets with real chips, plus the interaction with actual craps dealers, is part of why we love craps so much. Reminds us of those electronic poker tables they tried before.
We felt the same about these. It looks cool and everything, but we go to the casino to handle the cards and play with real chips. Does any casino still have these?
Thanks to Marc Meltzer for letting us post his video of the craps table. The guy knows Las Vegas. Follow him at @MeltzVegas for the latest information on Las Vegas and cool pictures.
Thanks for reading! Never miss a post! Subscribe to the website by filling out the form on the right hand side. You'll be emailed when a new post is up. Or follow us on Twitter @YourTripReports. We tweet whenever we post something new.
Submit a trip report of your own! Click the 'Submit Your Trip Report' tab at the top of the page.
Related
One of the most confounding casino games for rookie gamblers visiting Las Vegas is real money craps.
And that's a shame too, because the classic dice rolling affair is also one of the most entertaining experiences on any casino floor. Even better, despite the trappings of exotic bets like the 'hard way,' the basic wagers in craps offer odds which are among the most favorable around.
Unfortunately, due to the craps table's reputation as the domain of hardcore gamblers, many beginners who want to learn the game never step up to take the dice in hand. This phenomenon can be attributed to many reasons, but first and foremost is the intimidating atmosphere presented by a traditional Las Vegas craps table.
And even when you're not rolling the bones yourself, a crowded caps table can feel more like a frat party than a casino game. Everyone is shouting their desired number, yelling to the dealer to get bets down, and celebrating in unison when the shooter nails their point number.
As for the craps table itself, this elongated piece of equipment is always home to no less than five casino staff members working the game. You'll see a boxman supervising the action, a stickman sliding the dice to shooters, and three dealers scanning bets to collect losers and pay out winners.
Throw in one of the more complex betting layouts found in any casino – one featuring several dozen unique wager types listed using all variety of slang terminology – and traditional craps can easily dissuade would be beginners from giving the game a try.
For these reasons, whenever I encounter a craps rookie lingering near the rail and showing hesitation, I politely suggest that they try a 'Bubble' craps machine first.
Officially known as 'Shoot to Win Craps,' these innovative machines manufactured by Aruze Gaming manage to recreate the game to perfection in a personalized play format.
The only thing is, many Las Vegas gamblers simply ignore these Shoot to Win Craps machines out of hand, mistakenly believing them to be bastardized versions of the real deal.
That's what Scott Roeben of the popular Vital Vegas blog used to do, as the experienced local simply didn't see Shoot to Win Craps as a viable alternative. Here's what Roeben had to say about this first impression of the machine:
'We love traditional craps, at a craps table, with the chips and the cussing and the dice you can fondle, so we spent months just walking right by the Shoot to Win Craps game.
Until recently, when we sat down and played, and we loved it right from the start.'
After taking the time to play Shoot to Win Craps – which takes its 'Bubble Craps' moniker from the plexiglass bubble used to house and roll large foam dice – Roeben took to his Vital Vegas page and spread the new game's gospel to the masses:
'Craps can be intimidating. While craps tables are often the most boisterous parts of a casino, the jargon and fast pace of the game can be a little off-putting.
The table layout and bets can take some time to learn, so many just watch and move on to game they're more comfortable with.
Shoot to Win Craps makes craps accessible to everyone, and even provides a lot of benefits more experienced players will appreciate.'
If you've ever wanted to play craps for yourself, but couldn't quite muster the courage to put chips down on a real table, this page is here to tell you that Shoot to Win Craps provides the perfect entry point.
Shoot to Win Craps Machines Won't Hit You With Hidden Changes
First things first… you're probably wondering how the house uses Shoot to Win Craps machines to get one over on players.
In other machine-based replicas of traditional table games, the casino can easily adjust the odds ever so slightly in their favor to increase the house edge. Video blackjack machines largely eschew the more favorable 3 to 2 payouts on a natural 21 for the inferior 6 to 5 reward. And on a video roulette machine, you might find 34 to 1 payouts on a single number hit instead of the standard 35 to 1.
But on a Shoot to Win Craps machine, the payouts and house edge rates are identical across the board to those offered on a genuine craps table:
Payouts and House Edge Rates for Common Bets on the Shoot to Win Craps Machine:
Bet/Rules | Payout | House Edge |
---|---|---|
Odds 4, 10 | 2 to 1 | 0.00% |
Odds 5, 9 | 3 to 2 | 0.00% |
Odds 6, 8 | 6 to 5 | 0.00% |
Don't Pass/Don't Come | 1 to 1 | 1.36% |
Pass/Come | 1 to 1 | 1.41% |
Place 6, 8 | 7 to 6 | 1.52% |
Field (3:1 on 12) | 1 to 1 | 2.78% |
Place 5, 9 | 7 to 5 | 4.00% |
Field (2:1 on 12) | 1 to 1 | 5.56% |
Place 4, 10 | 9 to 5 | 6.67% |
Big 6, 8 | 1 to 1 | 9.09% |
Hard 6, 8 | 9 to 1 | 9.09% |
Any Craps | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
Hard 4, 10 | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
Hi-Lo (2 or 12) | 15 to 1 | 11.11% |
3; Yo-leven (11); Easy Hops | 15 to 1 | 11.11% |
2; 12; Hard Hops | 30 to 1 | 13.89% |
Any Seven | 4 to 1 | 16.67% |
This may not seem like much at first glance, but knowing that Aruze Gaming chose to design their Shoot to Win Craps machines with integrity is very important. I would never advise my readers to take a shot on an inferior wager, so rest assured that you'll be facing the exact same odds and house edge rates, while playing for the same payouts, when you try the Bubble Craps alternative.
The Minimum Bet Limits and Odds Offered Can Be Much Better on Bubble Craps
Speaking of odds, one of the most popular and profitable wagers in craps – and all of casino gambling for that matter – is known as the Odds bet.
Craps Machine With Two Large Dice
After you've placed an introductory bet on either the Pass Line or the Don't Pass Line, and the shooter sets a point number on their come out roll, you are then free to 'take the Odds.' Essentially, this is a second bet placed behind your Pass Line or Don't Pass Line wager which pays out at true odds when based on the point number.
In other words, you'll receive a payout of 2 to 1 on your money when the shooter rolls the point of 4 or 10 again; 3 to 2 odds on a 5 or 9 point; and 6 to 5 on a 6 or 8 point. And as the table above makes clear, the Odds bet offers one of the rarest sights in all of casino gambling – a wager with no house edge whatsoever.
Of course, casinos aren't in the business of offering fair odds like this, which is why you have to place a perfunctory Pass Line or Don't Pass Line bet first. Furthermore, craps tables nowadays have ditched the old 100x limit on Odds bets which once made Las Vegas the craps capital of the world. Instead, you'll often see physical craps tables in Sin City limit the Odds bet to 3x on 4 or 10 points, 4x on the 5 or 9, and 5x on the 6 or 8.
Here's how the various limitations on Odds betting can affect your overall house edge rate when the Pass Line or Don't Pass Line wagers are factored in:
House Edge on Craps Odds Bet (by Odds Limit):
Odds (Taken) | Pass Line | Don't Pass |
---|---|---|
0x | 1.41% | 1.36% |
1x | 0.848% | 0.682% |
2x | 0.606% | 0.455% |
Full Double Odds | 0.572% | 0.431% |
3x | 0.471% | 0.341% |
3x-4x-5x | 0.374% | 0.273% |
5x | 0.326% | 0.227% |
10x | 0.184% | 0.124% |
20x | 0.099% | 0.065% |
100x | 0.021% | 0.014% |
Now that you know how the Odds bet works, check out the list below to see how various Las Vegas casinos choose to limit this crucial wager:
Survey of Craps Tables in Las Vegas:
Casino | Minimum Bet | Maximum Odds |
---|---|---|
Aria | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Bally's | $5 | 3x-4x-5x |
Bellagio | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Binion's | $5 | 5x |
Caesars Palace | $5 | 3x-4x-5x |
California | $5 | 2x |
Casino Royale | $3 | 100x |
Circus Circus | $5 | 2x |
Cosmopolitan | $15 | 3x-4x-5x |
Cromwell | $5 | 100x |
Downtown Grand | $5 | 10x |
El Cortez | $5 | 10x |
Encore | $10 | 2x |
Flamingo | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Four Queens | $5 | 5x |
Fremont | $3 | 2x |
Golden Gate | $5 | 10x |
Golden Nugget | $5 | 3x-4x-5x |
Joker's Wild | $1 | 10x |
Linq | $5 | 3x-4x-5x |
Luxor | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Main Street Station | $5 | 20x |
Mandalay Bay | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Margaritaville | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
MGM Grand | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Mirage | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Monte Carlo | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
New York New York | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
O'Shea's | $5 | 3x-4x-5x |
Orleans | $5 | 3x-4x-5x |
Palazzo | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Palms | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Palms | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Paris | $5 | 3x-4x-5x |
Red Rock Resort | $5 | 10x |
SLS Las Vegas | $5 | 10x |
South Point | $5 | 2x |
Stratosphere | $5 | 10x |
The D | $5 | 10x |
Treasure Island | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Tropicana | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
Venetian | $10 | 3x-4x-5x |
As you can see, almost all of these venues like to cap their Odds bet action using the 3x-4x-5x structure. And when you can find higher limits than that, you'll usually need to place a higher minimum wager on the Pass Line or Don't Pass Line to 'earn' that right.
Conversely, players sitting at a Shoot to Win Craps machine can almost always limit their initial liability via lower minimum bets.
Almost every casino in town uses a $5 or $10 minimum on the initial bets when you play at a traditional table. But when you try the Shoot to Win Craps machine, you'll be able to learn the game at a more leisurely pace thanks to lower limits – all while still enjoying up to 5x on your Odds bet:
Survey of Shoot to Win Craps Machines in Las Vegas:
Casino | Minimum Bet | Maximum Odds |
---|---|---|
Aria | $5 | 2x |
Bally's | $3 | 2x |
Binion's | $2 | 5x |
Cosmopolitan | $5 | 2x |
Cromwell | $3 | 2x |
Downtown Grand | $1 | 4x |
Excalibur | $1 | 2x |
Flamingo | $3 | 2x |
Harrah's | $3 | 2x |
Linq | $3 | 2x |
Luxor | $2 | 3x |
Mandalay Bay | $3 | 2x |
MGM Grand | $5 | 3x |
Monte Carlo | $3 | 5x |
New York New York | $2 | 5x |
Palms | $2 | 5x |
Slot-A-Fun | $2 | 5x |
Tropicana | $2 | 2x |
Comfort Is Key on the Shoot to Win Craps Machine
Enough about the intricacies of craps mathematics for a moment though… the real hook offered by Shoot to Win Craps machine is ease of entry.
When you play Bubble Craps, you won't have to worry about anybody else at the table sizing you up and pegging you as a rookie.
That means no dirty looks if you decide to dance with the 'dark side,' a colloquial craps term used to describe Don't Pass Line bettors. Similarly, when you want to splash around on some of the more longshot exotic wagers like the Any Craps, Hard Way, or Yo-Leven, you can feel free to indulge yourself without receiving a lecture from more conservative players.
And for pure beginners who are simply trying to learn the rules and basic gameplay, Shoot to Win Craps uses a convenient touchscreen input to make the betting layout easy to read and navigate.
You can watch this short video provided by Aruze Gaming to see exactly how Shoot to Win Craps machines present the game from the player's perspective:
Craps Machine
Conclusion
Craps Machine Vegas
I'll be the first to admit that as a longtime craps player, adjusting to the machine-based Bubble rolling can be a bit tricky. Cradling the dice in hand and letting them fly is all part of the fun, as is high-fiving and back-clapping your fellow players when the right number comes in.
Craps Machine Las Vegas
But for folks who have little to no experience rolling real dice at the tables, sitting down for a session on the Shoot to Win Craps machine is definitely the next best thing. When you've learned the ropes there, feel free to take your newfound knowledge and confidence to the tables to complete your evolution from student to master.